112 
THE MURRAIN AMONG CATTLE. 
parturition, " I have never had the pleasure of watching over a 
series of better and more rapid recoveries, nor once witnessed any 
disagreeable result follow to either mother or child, whilst I have 
now seen an immense amount of maternal pain and agony saved by 
its employment. And I most conscientiously believe that the proud 
mission of the physician is distinctly twofold, namely, to alleviate 
human suffering, as well as to preserve human life.” 
Such is the sketch of this remarkable discovery of ether inhala- 
tion, and such the promise of improvement in the addition to it of 
chloroform ; a substance hitherto interesting only to the scientific 
chemist, but now of importance to all who seek relief from the suf- 
ferings to which their bodily constitution renders them liable. 
A discovery such as this is sure to make its way, if experience 
should not prove that it is attended with counteracting disadvan- 
tages. All that its advocates can fairly demand is an impartial trial 
of its merits. The irrepressible desire in human nature to escape 
from pain will compel this, even though it may be opposed by the 
timidity, prejudices, dulness, indolence, or callousness of individuals. 
The practice numbers among its supporters names of the highest 
rank in the medical profession — men who will carry on the investi- 
gation of its applicability and suitableness to the various cases of 
human suffering with the ardour and perseverance which the im- 
portance of it demands, but whose judgment and intelligence will 
not allow them to admit these claims, except to such an extent as 
may be warranted by the experience arising from a judicious obser- 
vation of facts, the only substantial basis on which we can ground 
its title to be called an important addition to the healing art. 
THE MURRAIN AMONG CATTLE. 
At the monthly meeting of the Highland and Agricultural So- 
ciety of Scotland, held at Edinburgh, on Wednesday, 12th inst., 
the secretary read a communication from the Board of Trade, to 
the effect that the epizootic, which was thought to be disappearing, 
had broken out with greater violence than ever among the horned 
cattle of Wallachia, and that three-fourths of those which had been, 
spared from last year’s visitation were falling victims to it. The 
secretary said, that though the communication just read had refer- 
ence to the state of the epidemic in a distant country, the directors 
conceived it to be their duty to submit to the public all information 
conveyed to them on so important a subject, in regard to which 
Professor Dick, who was present, has promised to give to the 
meeting the results of his experience. Professor Dick then rose 
and made the following statement, which we give as of great inte- 
rest to the public at present : — Professor Dick stated that pleuro- 
